Gripper mechanism for traction-towing.



PATENTED DEG.12, 1905.

P. THOMPSON. GRIPPER MECHANISM FOR TRACTION TOWING.

APPLICATION FILED APILZI. 1905.

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UNITED smrns PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. 12, 1905.

Application filed April 21, 1905. Serial No. 266,814..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PERoY THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gripper Mechanism for Traction-Towing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gripping devices for towage-traction ways.

The object of the invention is to produce automatic means whereby the tractor in a towage apparatus for canals, &c., can be gripped more firmly to the track as the weight or load increases.

The invention consists in certain constructions and combinations of elements, as will be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a broken cross-section of so much of a traction-way and tractor as will give a general idea of the application of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of so much of the tractor as is needed to illustrate the gripping device. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of part of the tractor and the gripper-operating device.

It is intended to illustrate only a simple form of device involving the general principics of the invention.

There are many known forms of electrical and other tractors which run on an elevated rail. The numeral 1 indicates one form of such a rail, and 2 indicates a tractor running thereon. Any suitable form of tractor and rail may be used. The tractor-wheels 3 run on top of the mill, and the gripperwheels 4: 4, in the device shown, run on the bottom of the tractor rail; but it is not essential that the gripping shall be up and down. The gripper-wheels t 4: in. the device illustrated are supported from the tractor 2 by a hanger 5, but are capable of movement to and from the track 1. The bearings 6 of the wheels 4 are on a frame 7 which frame is capable of a vertical movement with relation to the hanger 5. Alever 8 is pivoted at 11 to the hanger 5. Lever 8 has a short arm 9, and this arm has a pivot 10, to which link or pitman 12 is connected. Pitman 12 passes through frame 7 and nut 13 serves for the adjustment of said frame to give a grip on the rail should such adjustment be desirable.

The tow-line 15, by which the load is to be drawn, is connected to the upper end of the lever 8 in the following manner: The end of the line 15 is secured to a loose cross-head 16, which cross-head moves freely on guide-pins 17. A buffer-spring 19 is interposed between the cross-head l6 and lever 8 for the purpose of reducing sudden strains. A drafton towline 15 compresses spring 19 and swingsthe upper end of lever 8, so that said lever rocks on pivot 11. This lifts the arm 9 and pitman 12, whereby the gripper-wheels connected to said pitman are brought into firm contact with the under surface of the track-rail. In order that the tow-line may operate from either direction, it is preferably carried around one or the other of the pulleys 20. These pulleys are mounted on yoke 21, connected to the hanger 5. The weight of the frame 7 and its attachments normally removes the gripperwheels from the lower face of the track, when there is no load on the tow-line. From the above it will be understood that the bite of the gripper-wheels to the track is just in proportion to the draft on tow-line 15 and that when the tractor is running without load the gripper-wheels may be practically out of operation.

What I claim is l. The combination with a traction way and a tractor having wheels running thereon, of a hanging pendant from said tractor, a lever pivoted to the hanger, a link pivoted to said lever, a frame connected to the link, wheels on said frame bearing on the traction-way, and a towing connection from the lever, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a track, ofa tractor having wheels traveling thereon, a hanger connected. to the tractor, a lever pivoted to said hanger and having a link pivotally connected to its short arm, a frame connected to said link and having wheels which grip the track, and a tow-line connected to the long arm of the lever by a buffer-spring.

3. The combination with a track, of a tractor having wheels thereon, a hanger connected to the tractor and a traction-lever pivoted to the hanger, a link pivoted to said lever and a frame pivoted to said link, gripper-wheels on the frame in position to bear on the track, a yoke connected to the hanger and bearing pulleys at each side of said hanger, and a towrope passing between said pulleys and secured to said lever, all substantially as described.

4. The combination with a tractor and rail,

a hanger from the tractor, a movable frame In testimony whereof I affix my signature in su1aported$ the hariger, gripperlwheels card presence of two Witnesses. rie by sai rame, a ever pivotal y connecte to both the hanger and frame and a tow-line I PERCY THOMPSON 5 connected to the lever, whereby the gripper- Witnesses:

Wheels are gripped to the track with a pres- EDWAR W. GOUGHLIN, sure proportioned to the load on the tow-line. BENJAMIN WELTON. 

